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LB Shaq Thompson, Washington
Age: 21
Height: 6-0
Weight: 228

College Career: Won the Paul Hornung Award in 2014 as the nation’s most versatile player. Three-year starter on defense also lined up at running back last season and averaged 7.5 yards per carry on 61 rushing attempts. Played a hybrid nickel back/linebacker position as a freshman before moving to full-time to linebacker. Also was an 18th round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox as outfield. Former high school track star.

Strengths: It takes a special athlete to be a linebacker, nickel back, safety, running back, outfielder and a track star. Great instincts, speed and suddenness. Changes direction with ease. True playmaker who scored four defensive touchdowns in college.

Weaknesses: Small for a linebacker. Has a tendency to get blasted out of gaps by pulling offensive linemen. Projection as a safety carries some risk because he never really played the position in college. Has maintained he wants to stay at linebacker. Went 0-for-39 with 37 strikeouts during a short stint in the Red Sox’s minor league system.

Bears Outlook: The sneakiest way to fix the Bears’ safety problem could be to draft Shaq Thompson. He wants to stay at linebacker, but desires change when an NFL team starts paying you money. This kid was the No. 1 safety coming out of high school but Washington never really used him in that role. With his athleticism and raw ability, it’s scary to think how good he can be at the position if an NFL team starts coaching him up. But that’s not to say Vic Fangio couldn’t move him around. Most believe Thompson should be a 4-3 outside linebacker, but he’s already proven that you shouldn’t pigeonhole him. I could see him playing at inside or outside linebacker with the longterm goal of making him your regular safety. If the Bears trade back, Thompson would be a great pick later in the first round or early in the second.

More: Hoge’s Entire Bears Big Board

Adam Hoge covers the Chicago Bears for WGN Radio and WGNRadio.com. He also co-hosts The Beat, weekends on 720 WGN. Follow him on Twitter at @AdamHoge.